Volvo ES90 First Drive Impression

Fast Facts

Volvo has a long and storied history with sedans. While modern trends see the likes of the XC60 topping sales charts, it's the D-segment sedan that has always served as the springboard for their innovation and direction. The new ES90 is no different. This new, all-electric fastback sedan ticks all the right boxes and ushers in a new era for Volvo's electrified efforts.

Several years ago, the Swedish firm made a bold declaration that it would have its entire lineup be electric by 2030. As time has progressed, and consumer sentiment around battery electric vehicles (BEV) has shifted, so has their target. The readjusted target calls for 90-100% of their lineup to be electrified, in either full-electric or hybrid form, by the end of the decade. Recognising that uptake has varied across markets worldwide, a tiered structure has been implemented, with our local market requiring a longer bridge to full electric. 

This will see Volvo offering mild hybrid (MHEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and Gen 2 PHEV - where the internal combustion provides charge only (range extending) - before offering up a full BHEV solution. Expect to see a greater variety of hybrid offerings from Volvo South Africa over the next few months.

The slick, svelte ES90

I'll be the first to admit that I still like sedans, so seeing the likes of the ES90 launched locally, where demand for the D-segment sedan is visibly dwindling, is very much welcomed. Just about everyone's first EV experience is in an SUV or crossover, and I've always enjoyed an electric sedan. I, naturally, understand how an EV SUV would make more sense, but having the power, convenience, and refinement of an EV combined in the shape, size and form of a sedan tickles me a little more.

The ES90 is a fastback design with a rear glass hatch that lifts to reveal a large 446-litre boot, expandable to 1 427-litres. The rear haunches of the ES90 do sit rather high, giving it a slight crossover feel, but that sentiment is quickly banished when you observe the lack of space in the wheel arches. The large 21-inch wheels fill these, and the low-profile tyres suggest that this is most certainly a road-biased sedan, rather than a crossover. Customers can choose wheels ranging from 20 to 22 inches in diameter.

C-shaped LED taillights bookend the rear profile with high-rise LED elements stretching into the D-pillars, creating a unique visage at night or when on the brakes. We first saw Volvo extend its headlights up towards the roof on the XC60, and that trend continues here.

At the front, the clean and uncluttered nose of the ES90 is flanked by the redesigned Thor's Hammer LED DRL signature, dancing and welcoming you as you approach the vehicle. A faux lower airdam section prevents the ES90 from looking too obscure, giving it a somewhat more traditional appearance. So much so that one hardly notices that the ES90 doesn't have a front grille.

Scandinavian minimalism

Step inside the ES90, and you're welcomed by a luxurious, stylish cabin, draped in sustainable materials that are pleasing to the touch. A lot of thought has gone into the ES90's interior design and trim, befitting a flagship model. A broad, two-tier dashboard stretches out before you, punctuated by the larger, portrait-oriented 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system running a Google-based operating system. This is naturally replete with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Wi-Fi, and over-the-air updates. Opt for the Bowers & Wilkins 25-speaker, 1 610-Watt audio system, and you will be blown away by studio-quality audio at concert-level volume!

Ahead of the driver rests a simplified digital display, thankfully attached to the steering column rather than the dashboard, ensuring you have exactly the same view of the cluster no matter how you position the steering wheel. This small design choice speaks to the levels of thought placed into the comfort and user experience that Volvo wishes to achieve.

A large, full-length panoramic sunroof helps keep the cabin feeling light and airy, and while customers can opt for a physical sunshade, Volvo has opted for tech, offering an electrochromatic solution instead. At the push of a (virtual) button, the glass panel frosts over, allowing light to still permeate the cabin while blocking out direct sunlight and lowering the temperature. Even in the heat of the day, the glass remained cool to the touch.

A great amount of attention was paid to the materials used in the ES90 cabin, and the wood trim is tasteful and elegant, never overpowering. It complements the minimalist aesthetic and is even backlit to create an unrivalled nighttime ambience. Some may initially find the lack of buttons for setup a little frustrating or confusing, but once everything is set up, the clean, uncluttered environment is exceptionally rewarding.

Rear space is more than generous, with the flat floor offering unparalleled legroom and ease of use. The rear seats are electrically adjustable, allowing rear passengers to recline in comfort. At no point in time does the slope of the fastback feel as if it is intruding or encroaching on headroom.

Only one derivative... for now

Volvo Cars South Africa has elected to launch the ES90 with the more affordable single-motor variant, with plans to introduce the higher-powered twin-motor variant in the future. Truth be told, you would have to be a hard-core performance enthusiast to want the twin-motor setup, as this single motor offers more than enough to satisfy most customers.

The electric motor is mounted to the rear axle, powering the rear wheels for a true executive sedan experience. This motor produces 245 kW and a stout 480 Nm torque. It's enough to propel the admittedly heavy sedan from a standstill to 100 km/h in only 6.6-seconds and onto a limited top speed of 180 km/h. The top speed is a deliberate decision from Volvo, prioritising safety over outright performance.

Overtaking is effortless, and the ES90's throttle calibration is wonderfully programmed for a smooth drive, whether you're stuck in traffic or carving through the twisties. The optional air suspension is also wonderfully tuned. The feedback from the surface and controls weighting is ideal, striking that difficult balance between being compliant and supple while still communicating what the environment is like and what the car underneath you is experiencing. In standard mode, it offers 188 mm of ground clearance, while off-road mode provides 203 mm for gravel roads and uneven surfaces.

Three trim levels are on offer, though: Core, Plus, and Ultra, each offering slightly different standard equipment.

High-tech energy

The ES90 is the first Volvo sedan to employ an 800-Volt EV architecture. This allows for exceptionally fast charging with the ES90, accepting up to 22 kW of AC charging or an impressive 300 kW of DC charging. This allows the sizeable 92 kWh battery to be recharged in half the time of a regular EV.

The ES90 has low average consumption as well, especially impressive for a vehicle of its size (and the sedan-fan in me will be quick to point out that this is yet another benefit of the 3-box design), with a claimed average consumption of only 15.9 kWh/km. This also translates into a WLTP range of 755 km from a single charge - more than you would need for the daily grind.

Pricing

The Volvo ES90 is sold with an included five-year/100 000 km warranty and maintenance plan, an eight-year battery warranty, a GridCars wallbox with installation, 3 years of in-car data and two years of free public charging.